Printing method and apparatus using a ribbon inker



March 17, 1953 E. w. SCHREINER PRINTING METHOD AND APPARATUS USING ARIBBON INKER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 17, 1948 March 17, 1953 E. w.SCHREINER 2,631,533

PRINTING METHOD AND APPARATUS USING A RIBBON INKER Filed Nov. 17, 1948 sSheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR. WSckreuzer March 17, 1953 E. w. SCHREINER2,631,533

PRINTING METHOD AND APPARATUS USING A RIBBON INKER Filed Nov. 17, 1948 Y5 Sheets-Sheet s \LLA-LLE Patented Mar. 17, 1953 PRINTING METHOD ANDAPPARATUS USING A RIBBON INKER Edward W. Schreiner, Rochester, N. Y.,assignor to The Todd Company, Inc., Rochester, N. Y., a corporation ofNew York 1 Application November 17, 1948, Serial No. 60,541

ratus have been subject to difiiculties such as that of controlling thethickness and uniformity of the film of ink applied to the impressionsurfaces, with resulting lack of sharpness and uniformity in theprinting impressions, due either to insufficient inking or to excessiveinking and the tendency to smear.

It has been a common practice, more especially in standard printingpresses, to employ complicated mechanisms for distributing and applyinga'thinand uniform film of ink to the impression surfaces, but suchmechanisms are not adapted for use in methods and apparatus of thesimpler types employed, for example, in the field of oiiice equipment.

In the effort to overcome such difiiculties in machines of the simplertype, use has been made of inked ribbons interposed between the printingmember and the paper, but this practice has not been wholly satisfactorydue to the covering and blurring of the type by the ribbon, theappearance of fabric marks in the impression and the like.

It has also been proposed to ink planar impression surfaces by pressingthereagainst an inking ribbon supported on a planar surface or platenand then pressing the type surfaces on the work,

"but such method and apparatus are subject to the known difficulty ofapplying sufiicient pressure, in both the inking of the type and itsimpression on the work, due to the large areas over which'the pressuresare distributed, to effect proper inking and sharp and uniformimpressions, so that such a method and apparatus, so

far as I am aware, have not met with any substantial success or usage.

One object of the presentinvention, therefore, is to provide an improvedprinting method and apparatus of a more simple, rapid, and efficientnature.

Another object is to provide such a method capable of applying a moreaccurately controlled and uniform film of ink to theprinting surfaces,so as to insure properly inked and sharp impres- 11 Claims. (Cl. 101216)2 sions on the work and eliminate any tendency to smear.

Another object is to provide a method of the above character in the useof which an apparatus may be set up and operated to produce a highquality of printing work in a minimum of time, as in the imprinting ofbank checks, for example, so that the bank customer may convenientlywait for the delivery and use of the checks.

Another object is to provide a relatively simple and efficient apparatusfor carrying out the above method in a rapid and convenient manner.

Another object is to supply such an apparatus capable of producing afine quality of printing in either large or small quantitie with aminimum of time, labor and expense.

A further object is the provision of an apparatus having the aboveadvantages and in which the impression surfaces or type plates may berapidly set up and applied ready for printing and in such an arrangementas to be readily accessible in use for cleaning and for the replacementof one type plate by another.

To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvementsand combinations of parts and method steps, all as will be hereinaftermore fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claimsat the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged, sectional elevation substantially on the line |-lin Fig. 7;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary View of a portion of the base of the machineshowing a stop and gauge means for the work;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the machine with parts in section andpartly broken away;

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of parts of the machine on the line 4-4in Fig. 6;

Fig. 5 is a similar view on the line 5-5 in Fig. 6;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged top plan view of the printing and engaging membersand accessory parts as seen from above in Fig. 1;

Fig. 'I is an enlarged sectional elevation of a portion of the printingmember taken on the line in Fig. 8;

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation of the same substantially on the line 88in Fig. 7; I

Fig. 9 is a top plan View of a portion of th printing member as seenfrom above in Fig. '7, and

Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional elevation of a portion of the printingmember showing a modified construction for receiving movable type.

The method of my invention is best described in conjunction with adescription of the apparatus for carrying it out. This apparatus issimilar in various respects to that disclosed in the patent to W. B.Payne, No. 2,071,139, compr sing a base l5 adapted for table support,and on i is mounted a casing l5 (Figs. 1, 3 and 5), with a space or slotl'. between the base case adja cent the center of the machine for thepassage therethrough of checks E8, or other sheets to be printed, asmore fully described in the said patent.

At [9 is a frame mounted at its opposite ends on the opposite sides ofthe base and supporting, adjacent the center of the check space, an idlyrotatable platen roller 2i": over which the sheet to be printed issimultaneously red and printed by impression surfaces on a rotatableprinting member mounted on the case iii, as hereafter described.

For supporting the rotary printing member, the case I6 is formed withinwardly extending, spaced pairs of lugs, 2! to 1, inclusive, andmounted on these lugs are spaced supportin plates, and having outwardlyflanged bottom portions, 2'! and 28, fastened to the lugs as by means orscrews These plates are formed with bear-in: openings in which arerotatably supported a pair of spaced parallel shafts, 3t and 3!, forsupporting, respectively, the printing member and the rotary or memberfor applying ink to the impression surfaces.

The printing member comprises a pair of spaced plates, 32 and 33, eachhaving a bushing (not shown) mounted on the shaft These plates arefurther connected together b pairs of tie rods, 34 to 3?, inclusive(Fig. l),which serve also to support the printing plate holders,hereafter described. Pinned to shaft 39 at $3 is a bushing 39 having anarm it secured by means of a pin (not shown) to the plate 33 of theprinting member, for rotating it when the shaft is rotated by the meanshereafter-described.

The type holder or holders may have various forms, one of which,indicated generally at ll, comprises a cylindrical plate portion 42shaped to bridge the space between the printing mem 'ber plates 32 and33 and lying substantially in the periphery thereof. In the presentinstance, plate 62 has aifixed thereto an engraved'or otherwise formedimpression plate 220: and there are two of these holders and plates atdiametrically opposite sides of the printing member both having the sameconstruction so that a description of one will sufilce for both. Each ofthese plates has at each end an inwardly extending flange (33, one endof which is recessed as at M; and formed with a shoulder 45 adapted torest upon and be positioned by the tie rod 35. The other end of eachflange 43'is notched, as at 45, for similar engagement with andpositioning by the tie rod Similar means are provided for detachablyfastening each holder 3! to its. pair of tie rods, comprising a rod 4'!connecting the holder ends 13 and with which is releasably engaged alatch dog t8 pivoted at 49 to a yoke 56 .pivotally mounted on a tie rod5! having its ends fixed in the circular printing member plates 32 and33. .Dog i8 is yieldably pulled inwardly by a coiled tension spring 52having one end connected therewith and its other end connected with therod 59 as shown. To release the plate holder 4!, yoke it is rocked onits pivot rod 5! until the dog 48 is released from the rod 41 afterwhich the plate holder may be readily removed outwardly from the tierods;

34 and35. Thedog has a tailpart53'arrang'ed 4 to engage a stop flange 54on the yoke to limit the inward swinging movement of the dog.

The rotary member for applying ink to the printing member comprises asimilar pair of spaced circular plates, 55 and 56 (Figs. 1 and 6), eachhaving an inwardly extending hub (not shown) mounted on the shait 3l.These plates are further connected by pairs of spaced tie or cross rods,5'! to 60, inclusive, for mounting ribbon supports 5!, there being twosuch supports located, respectively, at diametrically opposite sides ofthe rotary member and having the same construction, so that adescription of one will serve for both. These supports have, in fact,the same general construction as the type holders 4|, comprising acylindrical surface 62 lying substantially in the periphery of therotary member. Surface portion 62 has fixed thereon a facing sheet 63,of rubber or other suitable resilient. material, over which is fed aninking ribbon 84. Each ribbon support has inwardly turned end flanges,as 65, similarly shaped and mounted on the tie rods as described abovein connection with the type holders. The ribbon supports are alsodetachably fixed to their mountings by latch mechanism, indicatedgenerally at B5, and having the same construction as described above forthe type holders, so that the ribbon supports. also may be readilydetached for cleaning or replacement, as occasion may require. Ribbon B4is: wound at its opposite ends about supply and rewind rollers, 67 and63, rotatably mounted be-- tween the circular plates 5'5 and 58 andactuated by means which will now be described.

The pairs of feeding spools or rolls for the two: ribbons, respectively,and their actuating meansare the same so that a description for one pairwill apply to both. Each roll of each pair comprises a tubular core orsleeve, as 69 (Fig. 1),. with spaced end flanges, H3 and ll (Fig. 6),between which the ribbon is wound on the core- Each end flange is formedwith a cylindrical'bearing opening (not shown) for the reception of atrunnion projecting inwardly from the corre* sponding circular plate 55'or 56 of the rotating inking member. To this end, plate 5S has fixedthereon a U-shaped bracket member 12 in theend of which and in platett'are alin'ed'bearings slidably receiving a plunger l3. Fixed on theplunger andsliding in the bearing in plate 56 is a sleeve 14 havingfixed thereon 'a disk 15 formed with a peripheral'notch 7-6. Acompression spring: li' coiled about the plunger between the bracket,and sleeve tends to press the plunger inwardly so that its inner end,whichfis formed as a trunnion (not shown), engages in the bearing open--ings of the'spool or roll, as referred to above, for rotatablysupporting the same. The end. flange ll of the spool has an outwardlyprojecting fin-- ger 78 arranged to engage in the notable ofthe plungerflange and form a driving connection with the plunger which may berotated manually by a knurled disk 19 on its outer end, or pulledoutwardly to release the spool. The other end of the spool is rotatablysupported in a similar way on a trunnion (not shown) on a short spindleiill rotatably mounted in a bearing in the circular plate 55. Fixed onthe spindle'is a circular flange scribed.

' The means for rotatin the ribbm Spools or rolls, step by step,comprises, for each roll for each ribbon,'a pair of feed pawls, 84 and85 (Fig. 4), pivotally mounted at 8B and 81 at the outer ends of thecross arm of a substantially T-shaped arm 88 pivotally mounted at itsother end on shaft 3|. The pawls are-arranged to engage with the ratchetwheels 83 of the ribbon rolls, each ratchet having a hook-shapedportion, as 89, and these portions being connected by a coiled tensionspring 99 tending to move the pawls into engagement with the ratchetwheels. Such inward movement of the pawls is limited by lugs, as 9|, onarm 88 which is shifted laterally, by means hereafter described, so asto move one of the pawls in actuating engagement with the ratchet wheelof that one of the rolls on which the ribbon is then being wound. Itwill be understood that the rolls for the other ribbon are actuated bymeans having the same construction as described above.

Arm 98 has pivoted thereon at 92 a latch 93 carrying a roller 94 adaptedto be releasably engaged in one or the other of a pair of semi-circularnotches, 95 and 9B, in the outer end of an arm 91 pivotally mounted onand oscillating about the shaft (ii to oscillate the arm 88. A coiledtension spring 98 connected to the latch 93 tends to hold the roller 94in one or the other of the notches of the arm 91. When the ribbon hasbeen completely unwound from one of the rolls, the ribbon tension on theother roll and the resistance to actuation of the corresponding pawltends to shift roller 94 from one notch to the other of the arm 91, orfrom notch 95 to notch 96, as shown in Fig. 4, where the parts arepositioned for actuating ratchet wheel 83 to rewind the ribbon on thisroll. With such shifting of the roller 94, arm 88 is swung about shaft3I relative to arm 91 to move pawl 84 out of contact with its ratchetwheel and move the other pawl 85 into engagement with the other ratchetwheel of the pair for reversing the direction of feed of the ribbon andrewinding it on its other roll or spool. The means for oscillating arm91 about shaft 3i comprises a lug 99 on the arm having therein a notchI99 in which engages a pin IN on a forked arm I02 pivoted at I03 on thedisk 55 of the rotary inking member. Forked branches, I04 and I95, ofarm I02 are provided with rollers, as I05, engaging from opposite sideswith a cam I91 stationarily mounted on shaft 3I as by means of one ormore studs I08 (Fig. 6), fixed to the cam and to the adjacent casingcross plate 25. It-is apparent from this construction that as the inkingmember is rotated, arm I02 is oscillated by the cam and oscillates arm91 to actuate the feeding pawls as described above.

Means are provided to prevent unwinding of each ribbon supply roll underthe tension of the ribbon while its ratchet wheel is momentarilydisengaged by its actuating pawl during feeding actuation, such meanscomprising for each roll a pawl I99 (Fig. 5), pivoted at I ID on theinner side of disk 55 of the rotary inking member. The pawl has a toothIII projecting through an opening H2 in the disk for engagement with itscorresponding ratchet wheel 83, being urged to such engagement by acoiled tension spring I I3 attached thereto. A tail portion I I4 of thepawl is arranged to engage one or the other of cam portions I I5 and II6 on an arm II'I mounted to rock about a pivot II8 on disk 55. Theouter end of the arm is notched, as at II9,

I to engage opposite sides ofa pin I2 0 on the corresponding arm 88 ofthe feeding mechanism. These parts are so arranged that when the arm 88is positioned to actuate the ratchet wheel of a roll to wind up theribbon, its pin I20 swings arm II? to bring its lower cam portion H5opposite tail N4 of pawl I99, so as to allow the pawl to engage thecorresponding ratchet wheel 83. At the same time, the other cam portionI it of arm II? moves the corresponding ratchet I99 to disengage theratchet wheel of the corresponding supply roll to allow free rotationthereof.

The machine is preferably driven by motor means (not shown) having adriving connection with a gear i2l (Fig. 6) fixed on shaft 39, asdescribed in detail in said patent, the particular construction of whichforms no part of the present invention. Fixed on shaft 30 is a spur gearI22 meshing with an idler gear I23 rotatably mounted on plate 25. GearI23 meshes with a second idler gear I24 meshing in turn with a gear I25fixed on shaft 3I for rotating the printing member and the rotary inkingmember simultaneously and synchronously, so that each printing plate 42ais rolled in contact with the ribbon on the corresponding ribbonsupporting surface 63 of the rotary inking member. These parts are soconstructed and arranged as to subject a portion of the ribbon supportedon surface 63 to substantial pressure at the line of contact betweenthis ribbon supporting surface and the opposing impression surface ofthe printing member as they are rolled in contact with oneanother forobtaining a supply of ink from the ribbon for application to theprinting member, the ribbon being inter- I mittently fed, step by step,between such rolling inking contacts to present a partial fresh inkingsurface of the ribbon at each contact. In the present instance, theprinting member has two impression surfaces each of which has itscorresponding ribbon on the rotary inking member and, if desired, theribbons may be impregnated with inks of different colors for applying amulticolored impression to the work. It is obvious, however, that one ora larger number of such impression surfaces and inking ribbons may besimilarly employed.

The invention is embodied, in the present instance, as hereinabovestated, in a machine of the type disclosed in detail in th said patentwherein the base of the machine carries a stop I26 slidably andadjustably mounted on a rock shaft I21 (Figs. 1 and 2) in the path ofthe check through the slot I'I between the base and casing. A belt I28on the base at the bottom of the slot is driven by means (not shown) forcarrying a paper form inserted in the slot until it is engaged andstopped by the stop I28, the impression surface being then spaced fromthe platen to allow the Work to pass freely therebetween. On rotation ofthe printing member, the impression surface is moved in a directionopposite to that of the travel of the belt, as shown by the arrows inthe drawing, so as to impress the work between the projecting impressionsurface and the platen roller and print the work, while simultaneouslyfeeding it against the travel of the belt. When the impression surfacepasses out of contact with the work, it is again carried forward by thebelt. If a second impression is employed, the work is again arrested bythe stop and printed and fed 'backwardly by the second impressionsurface in a line of contact located at one point in the path ofrotation of said printing member for applying a uniform supply of inkfrom said ribbon to said member, progressivelyfeeding said ribbon forSupplying ink from successive portions thereof, and impressing the workbetween said printing member and a rotary platen member at a line ofcontact located at another point in the path of rotation of saidprinting member spaced from said line of inking contact between saidprinting and inking members.

2. In the art of printing with a rotary inked printing member, themethod comprising the steps of employing an inking ribbon to provide athinly distributed and uniform supply of ink, supporting said ribbon ona rotary inking member, supplying ink from said ribbon to said printingmember by rotary engagement therewith, progressively feeding said ribbonfor supplying ink from successive portions thereof and impressing thework between said printing member and a rotary platen member positionedto print the work on the face thereof adjacent said printing and inkingmembers.

3. In the art of printing with a rotary inked printing member, themethod comprising the steps of employing an inking ribbon to provide athinly distributed and uniform supply of ink, supporting said ribbon ona rotary inking member for rolling pressure against said printing memberat a line of contact located at one point in the path of rotation ofsaid printing member for applying a uniform supply of ink from saidribbon to said member, progressively feeding said ribbon to presentsuccessive portions thereof for r pressure between said surfaces andimpressing the work between said printing member and a rotary platenmember at a line of contact located at another point in the path ofrotation of said printing member spaced from said line of contactbetween said printing and inking members.

4. In the art of printing with a rotary inked printing member, themethod comprising the steps of employing an inking ribbon to provide athinly distributed and uniform supply of ink,

supporting said ribbon on a rotary inking member, transferring ink fromsaid ribbon to said printing member, progressively feeding said ribbonon said inking member for supplying ink from successive portions thereofand impressing the work between said printing member and an idlyrotatable platen member separate from said printing and inking members.

5. In the art of printing with a rotary inked printing member, themethod-" comprising the steps of employing an inking ribbon to provide athinly distributed and uniform supply of ink, supporting said ribbon ona rotary inking member, rolling said ribbon between said printing andinking members for uniformly inking said printing member, progressivelyfeeding said ribbon to present successive portions thereof for inkingsaid printing member and impressing the work between said printingmember and an idly rotatable platen member separate from said print-:ing and inking members.

6. In a printing apparatus, a rotary printing member, inking meanscomprising an inking ribbon for providing a thinly distributed anduniform supply of ink, means for transferring ink from said ribbon tosaid member to ink the same and devices for progressively feeding saidribbon to present successive portions thereof for maintaining saiduniform ink supply, and a platen roller separate from said inking meansand 10 mounted to rotate idly in cooperation with said printing memberto simultaneously print and feed the work therebetween.-

7. In a printing apparatus, a printing member and platen adapted to berotated in contact with a sheet to be printed for simultaneouslyprinting and feeding the same, an inking ribbon, means forsupportingsaid ribbon and for applying ink therefrom, to said member ata portion of the path of said memberjspaced from its point of contactwith said sheet, devices for progressively feeding said ribbon on saidsupporting means to successively position different portions thereof forapplying ink to said member, and operating mechanism for rotating saidmember and actuating said feeding devices.

8. In a printing apparatus, a printing member and platen adapted to berotated in direct contact with a sheet to be printed for simultaneouslyprinting and feeding the same, an inking ribbon, rotatable meansprovided with a substantially cylindrical surface and with supply andrewind rolls for progressively feeding said ribbon over said surface tosuccessively position different portions thereof for applying ink tosaid member at a portion of the path of rotation of said member spacedfrom its point of contact with said sheet, and operating means forrotating said member, said rotatable means and said rolls.

9. In a printing apparatus, a printing member and platen adapted to berotated in contact with a sheet to be printed for simultaneouslyprinting and feeding the same, an inking ribbon, rotatable means havinga surface for supporting said ribbon, devices for progressively feedingsaid ribbon over said surface to successively position differentportions thereof for applying ink to said member, gearing connectingsaid member and rotatable means to effect synchronous rotation thereoffor rolling inking contact between said member and ribbon at a portionof the path of rotation of said member spaced from its point of contactwith said sheet, and operating means for rotating said member androtatable means and actuating said devices.

10. In a printing apparatus, a printing member and platen adapted to berotated in contact with a sheet to be printed to simultaneously printand feed the same therebetween, a type holder, means for detachablymounting said holder on the periphery of said member, type elementsprovided with means for detachably mounting the same on said holder, aninking ribbon, a rotary member having a peripheral surface forsupporting said ribbon, supply and rewind rolls on said rotary memberfor intermittently feeding said ribbon over said surface thereof, meansconnecting said members to effect synchronous rotation thereof forrolling inking contact between said type elements and ribbon at aportion of the path of rotation of said elements spaced from the pointof contact thereof with said sheet, and operating means for rotatingsaid members and actuating said rolls.

11. In a printing apparatus, a printing member and platen adapted to berotated in contact with a sheet to be printed for simultaneouslyprinting and feeding the same, an inking ribbon, a rotatable memberprovided with a peripheral surface portion for supporting said ribbonand with supply and rewind rolls for intermittently feeding said ribbonover said surface portion to successively position different portions ofsaid ribbon for applying ink to said printing member at a portion of thepath of rotation thereof spaced from said point of contact with saidsheet, means 11 for automatically reversing the direction of actuationof said rolls for feeding said ribbon alternately in oppositedirections, and operating means for rotating said members and actuatingsaid rolls.

EDWARD W. SCI-IREINER.

REFERENCES CITED Number 12 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date De ClercqDec. 9, 1919 Mattern Jan. 16, 1923 Rowell June 12, 1934 Payne Feb. 16,1937 Royce et a1. Jan. 4, 1938 Kohnle June 14, 1938 Swift et a1 Feb. 20,1940 Payne Feb. 19, 1952

